A SELF-employed tattooist who was caught behind the wheel nearly three times the drink drive limit has been banned from driving and ordered to do unpaid work.

A SELF-employed tattooist who was caught behind the wheel nearly three times the drink drive limit has been banned from driving and ordered to do unpaid work.

Paul Williams, of Clarence Road, in the Gainsborough area of Ipswich, was spotted by police driving along Benacre Road shortly before 7pm on November 28.

When he pulled up on his driveway outside his house he was arrested.

A roadside breath test showed 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, almost three times the drink drive limit.

Prosecuting solicitor Lesla Small told the bench in court one at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Tuesday that officers smelt alcohol on Williams' breath.

Miss Small said: “He was aggressive to police shouting and swearing.”

Williams, who pleaded guilty to drink driving and using a vehicle without a test certificate at an earlier hearing, was not represented by a lawyer.

He said: “I truly regret my actions. It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I don't have any defence. I should never have got in that car.”

Williams said the action was out of character and apologised to magistrates.

Magistrate bench chairman Graham Barnet said: “The aggravating factors were you were driving in a built up area, you were aggressive towards police and you were nearly three times the limit.

“There is no mitigation fro this offence but you have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and you have shown remorse today.”

Williams was made the subject of a community order with a requirement for 12 months supervision order and 80 hours unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for 24 months to be reduced by six months on completion of a drink drive rehabilitation course. He was also ordered to pay £70 costs.